Jeb Bush pushes techno-compassionate plan

ORLANDO, Fla., July 17 (UPI) -- An agenda that blends the compassionate conservatism of former U.S. President George W. Bush with technology is being pushed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

In speeches at Walt Disney World in Orlando Monday, Bush addressed educators, business leaders and a young Republicans' political action committee, expressing views on data-driven education, immigration and regulatory reforms, the Orlando Sentinel reported Tuesday.

At the Maverick PAC, a young Republicans' committee co-founded by son George P. Bush, the former governor pushed reform that recognizes immigration as a driver of the American economy, regulatory reform that isn't "at the expense of the environment or work conditions or the quality of air or the quality of water," and energy reform that blends maximization of U.S. energy resources with lower-consumption strategies.

Before educators and business leaders, Bush lauded the adoption by Florida and 44 other states of new "common core standards" of education based on international benchmarks supported by the Obama administration, the Sentinel said.

Speaking to journalists, Bush said the Republican Party may not embrace his views, but it is accepting them. After saying last month that the current Republican Party may might not embrace his father, George H.W. Bush, or Ronald Reagan, because of their willingness to compromise, Bush said most party people gave him kudos for speaking his mind, the Sentinel said.

"I had a moment of candor, I guess. I was critical of both parties, not just the Republican one. Since I was a Republican that's what garnered more attention," Bush said. "Unlike Bill Clinton, who had to publicly flog himself and say he was in error by being critical of President Obama's campaign attacking Mitt Romney for his business career, there is no orthodoxy. Heretics aren't burned at the stake in the Republican Party."